Pan-African Social Enterprise Summit to spotlight $1 Million investment fund in Uganda
Uganda’s social enterprise sector is seeking to attract investment and expand access to regional and international markets as organisers prepare to launch a proposed US$1 million fund at the Pan-African Social Enterprise Summit in Kampala on November 23–24, 2026.
The fund is expected to support businesses that combine commercial activities with solutions to social and environmental challenges. However, its funding sources, investment criteria, and management arrangements are unannounced.
The summit, organized by the Federation of Uganda Social Enterprises (FUSE) in collaboration with Ashoka East Africa, is projected to attract about 500 delegates, including entrepreneurs, investors, policymakers and development partners from across Africa and beyond.
“The launch of a US$1 million Pan-African Social Enterprise Fund shows that Africa is ready to invest in its own social entrepreneurs. PSES 2026 is where capital, policy and enterprise will meet,” said Timothy Mugerwa, president and chief executive of FUSE.
However, a working committee is expected to guide discussions on how the proposed fund will be financed and put into operation.
The initiative comes as social enterprises in Uganda continue to face challenges in accessing finance, securing markets and navigating limited institutional support.
According to FUSE, it has approximately 2500 members nationwide and is looking forward to engaging the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Cooperatives on developing a policy framework for social enterprises.
Mugerwa added that the lack of a dedicated national policy framework remained an obstacle to financing, partnerships and market access. A formal policy could establish clearer recognition for social enterprises and provide investors with a more consistent basis for assessing businesses that pursue both financial returns and measurable social impact.
The summit is expected to draw participants from 15 countries outside Uganda, with two impact investors from the United States also confirmed, according to Mugerwa.
Organizers plan to connect more than 500 African social enterprises with potential investors and business partners through exhibitions, networking sessions, speaker engagements and a Social Enterprise Marketplace.
For Ugandan enterprises, the priority will be turning these connections into investment agreements, supply contracts and opportunities to enter foreign markets. Mugerwa said FUSE wanted local businesses to sell their products and services to counterparts in Europe and other markets.
The cross-border ambitions align with the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), which aims to increase trade among African countries. However, enterprises will still need competitive products, sufficient financing and reliable distribution networks to take advantage of expanded market opportunities.
The summit also comes as Uganda pursues its Fourth National Development Plan for the 2025/26–2029/30 financial years and the government’s Ten-Fold Growth Strategy, which targets expanding the economy from approximately US$50 billion to US$500 billion by 2040.
Organisers say social enterprises can contribute to these ambitions by creating jobs, particularly for young people and women, while developing commercially sustainable solutions to social and environmental problems.
The programme will include a pitching competition for innovators aged 15 to 35, with prizes of US$4,000 and US$2,000. The competition targets businesses already generating revenue or with solutions ready for commercialisation. Organisers reported receiving about 200 applications by October 13.
The event will conclude with the Social Enterprise Awards Gala Dinner on November 24 at Hotel Africana in Kampala. The third edition of the awards, following previous events in 2024 and 2025, will recognize Ugandan social innovators across 10 categories.
Beyond the summit, FUSE is developing a digital social value marketplace to help social enterprises promote and sell their products. The platform’s commercial impact will depend on business participation, customer demand, and its operating model.
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